— Mom, my sneakers are completely worn out! — Misha stood in the doorway, timidly fiddling with the edge of his T-shirt.
— What do you mean worn out? We only bought them two months ago!
Marina nearly dropped the rag. God, that’s the last thing she needed right now. A whole week until payday, and not a penny in her wallet.
—I have no others, — her son pouted. — I wear them every day.
— Probably playing football again? — Marina tried to speak calmly, though inside she was boiling.
Misha snorted and looked away. Svetka — the younger sister, eternal defender of her brother — intervened:
— Mom, what’s wrong with you? All boys play football! What, is ours supposed to sit on the bench now?
Marina sank heavily onto a stool. Daughter, if only you knew how much I want to burst into tears…
—I understand everything, dear. But you need to understand me too: the factory closed, dad… — she faltered — dad stopped paying alimony. Where can I get money for new sneakers?
— What do we have to do with that?! — Misha exploded. — You shouldn’t have had us if we’re going to suffer like this!
He jumped up and stormed out, slamming the door loudly. Marina remained sitting, staring ahead. She wanted to cry until it hurt, but tears were only allowed at night, when the children slept. Now — no time. In a couple of hours, she had to go to work.
Work… She had worked at the factory for ten years, even was a team leader. Then — bam! — it was all over. The factory closed. They hoped it was temporary, but no such luck. Some guy bought the enterprise, now it’s staffed mostly by outsiders — they bring them by buses at night.
Roman was connected to the factory too. After it closed, he did a bit of taxi driving, and then… she remembered that evening. He packed his things in a bag and said:
— Marin, times are tough now… Living feels like burying yourself alive.
She even laughed then, thinking he was joking. She suggested they run away somewhere better together. But he looked serious:
— No, I’m going alone. I can’t take it anymore. I’m about to lose my mind.
— And the kids? They’re your kids, Rom!
— What can I do? Call me a bastard, but I’m leaving. I’ve decided.
And he left. Just disappeared. That’s when real fear hit her. Misha goes to school, Svetka is still little… Even if you count only food and utilities — money is needed. And jobs in the city are few. There’s a queue even for janitors, and half have higher education.
For two days she wandered the city — first where they promised decent pay, then where they paid at least something, and finally where they didn’t even know if they would ever pay at all. Now there are plenty of such firms where you wait for your salary longer than for the Second Coming.
By some miracle, she got a job as a cleaning lady in an office. These offices have now multiplied — they sit, shuffle papers, but what they actually do is unclear. They paid, of course, a laughably small amount, but at least something. Meat was unaffordable, oil became a luxury, but it was possible to survive. But when it came to shoes or clothes… That’s when the «borrow-and-pay-back» cycle started.
She had long since sold her gold chain, and her wedding ring too. Nothing valuable left.
— Mish! Svet! I’m leaving! — Marina shouted.
In the room came some indistinct murmuring. No one came to see her off. Ah, she spoiled her children… But what to expect from them? Other kids show off new things, and mine wear whatever they have.
She left the house with a heavy heart. On the way, she thought about Roman. She had filed for divorce after he left. And for alimony too. But no use — zero. Either he doesn’t work or he’s hiding. Not a penny for a year.
And she hadn’t married him out of great love. Just… it seemed time had come. He worked at the factory, didn’t drink, a decent man. They dated shortly, then he said: “Marin, why drag this out? We suit each other.” And indeed they did. Both homebodies, didn’t like noisy companies… Who could have thought he’d do this? If someone had predicted it — she wouldn’t have believed.
At the office it was immediately clear something happened. The girls whispered, no one worked.
— Why the long faces? — Marina asked.
— Marin, you didn’t hear? They were preparing a big deal, but now it seems everything’s fallen apart.
— Really?
— Info is verified. If it’s as bad as they say, Pavel Vasilyevich will be fired. And with him, all of us. He’s not a fool — won’t take blame on himself.
Marina felt her legs weaken. Damn… I was just about to ask for an advance…
— Why? — Alla was surprised.
— Misha needs sneakers. I’ll ask for an advance.
— Not the best timing… But try. At least you’ll find out what’s what.
Gathering her thoughts, Marina knocked on the manager’s office door.
— May I come in?
Andrey Alexandrovich wanted to tell her to get lost, but recognizing the cleaning lady, just waved his hand:
— Come in.
He remembered the HR lady had said: husband left, two kids, starving. One thought began to form in his head…
— Hello, Andrey Alexandrovich. I wanted to talk with you…
— Sit down, — he tried to smile.
— Thanks, I’d rather stand. Could you give me an advance? My son’s sneakers are completely worn out, no shoes to go to school…
The manager looked at her attentively and unexpectedly broke into a satisfied smile:
— Still, sit down. I have something to tell you too.
He paused, choosing words. The money was clearly needed for more than just that — it showed. So he’d probably agree.
If he could prove the deal’s failure was not his fault, the owner would stay silent. But if they decided to fire him anyway — an audit would start. And then the end: fake documents would be found and the whole chain exposed. The only way out — pin it all on the chief accountant. They had worked on the plan together, but then he himself made changes which she called “crazy nonsense.” He got offended. And now here it was — the moment of truth.
— What needs to be done? — Marina asked.
— Don’t be scared, — Andrey Alexandrovich warned. — For this amount, the task will be… not quite clean.
Marina felt her palms getting sweaty. The manager noticed her confusion and quickly wrote a number on a piece of paper.
She almost fell off her chair. This amount could change their lives: pay off debts, clothe the kids, even allow some repairs.
— What exactly needs to be done? — she barely managed to say.
— Replace documents in the chief accountant’s folder. She always carries it with her. Bring me the old ones, put mine in their place.
— So she… will suffer?
— She’ll lose her job, of course. But with experience at that level, she’ll find another one in a week. Don’t worry too much. I pay well for this. Think it over until the evening. The boss arrives in two days — everything must be ready. And not a word to anyone.
Marina stood up mechanically and left. Colleagues immediately surrounded her:
— So? Did he give the advance?
She first nodded, then shook her head, waved her hand, and went to her little room.
God, what to do? Her first impulse was — no way! But if she refuses, he’ll find someone else. Someone will agree for this money. And take it and just pretend to agree? Dangerous. She has children…
There was a knock on the door.
— Yes?
Olga Gavrilovna, the chief accountant, came in.
— Hello, Marin. Andrey Alexandrovich left, and I wanted to talk with you.
Marina jumped up sharply:
— Good you came!
And started crying. Couldn’t hold the tension.
The woman sat on a box:
— That’s what I thought. He wants to make me the scapegoat?
They talked briefly. Before leaving, Olga handed her an envelope:
— There’s a little here, but enough for sneakers. I have no more on me.
— Thank you… — Marina whispered, sobbing.
— Don’t refuse. Until evening.
At home, her children greeted her. Misha first:
— Mom, sorry. I just…
— It’s okay, son. Take it — here’s money for sneakers. And I bought a cake. We have guests today. Will you help clean up?
— Of course, mom!
Marina tried not to think about agreeing to help Andrey Alexandrovich. But only because Olga Gavrilovna asked her. The money from the manager lay in the bag — she hadn’t even touched it.
In the evening Olga Gavrilovna came again with someone else. Marina had never seen the big boss before. When the door opened…
— Vanya?! Sorry… Ivan Nikolaevich…
The man froze in the doorway:
— Marinka? It can’t be!
They studied in the same class. Then Marina went to vocational school — her parents died, she had to live somehow. And Vanya stayed, finished school. After a year his family moved out of town.
They were good friends but Marina always kept her distance. Worlds too different.
They stayed up late. The children had long been asleep when Olga Gavrilovna stood up:
— I have to go. You probably still have a lot to talk about.
Ivan saw her out:
— Thanks, Olga Gavrilovna. I’ll rest. A week will be enough for me to sort everything here.
They remained alone in the kitchen. Silent.
— Well, Marinka, tell me, — finally said Vanya. — How did the girl who explained physics to me become a cleaning lady?
She sighed and started. About vocational school, factory, marriage…
— So you went to the factory right after school? And married right away?
— Choices were limited. I just wanted peace. You remember how I lived? Parents… every day was drinking or fighting.
Vanya drummed his fingers on the table:
— I remember. Listen, Marin, you will go back to school.
— Are you crazy? At my age?
— Everyone studies! Me too. Don’t argue. I’ll support you financially. And generally help — I have plenty of time. I just got divorced. And then you’ll return to the company. Not as a cleaning lady, of course.
— Vanya, I can’t…
— Remember, I said the same when you explained the problems?
Marina smiled through tears:
— I remember. And I hit you with a textbook and told you — don’t say that again!
— Exactly! And now I don’t want to hear it. Give me your ex’s details. Seems he owes something to his children.
Three years passed. Marina Valentinovna took over the business. She could have done it earlier — Vanya offered long ago. But she decided to finish school, even on an accelerated program.
Now she was unrecognizable. Posture, style, manners — everything changed. She felt like a different person. Strong, confident, loved.
Who would have thought that one school physics problem would one day be the beginning of such a life…
